You know the trade deadline was quiet when the biggest trade involved Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris, but there were some trades within the AL West that can help bolster teams on their road to the postseason. 

The biggest acquisition at the trade deadline for an AL West team this year was that of starting pitcher Matt Garza, who was shipped from the Chicago Cubs to the Texas Rangers.  Now the Rangers gave up a lot for the 29-year-old pitcher as rookie right-hander Justin Grimm, top prospect third baseman Mike Olt, and class-A pitcher C.J. Edwards were all sent to Chicago along with a player(s) to be named later.  Garza is 7-1 on the year with a 2.95 ERA.  He’s had two starts already for Texas and in those two starts he is 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA.  Garza can become a free agent after this season.

So how exactly does Garza help the Rangers?  The veteran pitcher joins a rotation that includes Yu Darvish, Derek Holland, and Martin Perez.  He’s been on playoff teams and has much success as he is 2-1 with a 3.48 in five career postseason starts; not to mention he was MVP of the 2008 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox going 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in that series.  Garza adds experience to a rotation that has struggled this season and has been injury plagued. 

While the Rangers sent a lot of their young talent to Chicago for Garza, he was needed in Texas and gives that rotation a much needed boost to keep them in contention in the AL West. 

Now onto the division leading Oakland A’s who were very quiet during the trade deadline this year.  They were rumored for Garza as well as starting pitcher Jake Peavy, but the asking price was too high, so instead Mr. Moneyball, Billy Beane, got some infield help.  Alberto Callaspo will have to ditch his red cleats for some white ones, as he is now an Oakland A.  The A’s sent infielder Grant Green to the Angels for Callaspo on Tuesday night. 

Callaspo is batting .250 with five homeruns and 36 RBI thus far this season.  He will play second base for the A’s, a position he hasn’t played since 2010.  The A’s infield has been set all season with Josh Donaldson, Jed Lowrie and Brandon Moss getting the majority of the starts, but second base has been up in the air so far.  Eric Sogard has been on a hot streak and has been getting more playing time, but Callaspo adds experience to the field and lineup. 

He made his green and gold debut on Wednesday afternoon, as he pinch hit for Sogard and went 0-2 with a strikeout.   Callaspo adds depth to the first place A’s and can help them  reach the postseason for the second year in a row. 

Green really does nothing for the Angels this season, but he is a high prospect, just not quite ready for the bigs; as showcased by his short stint with the A’s this season.  He went hitless in five games (16 plate appearances).

The Houston Astros also made a trade, they sent their ace Norris to the Orioles for outfielder L.J. Hoes and 19-year old pitcher Josh Hader.  This move helps Baltimore as they make their move in the East.  Norris is 6-9 on the year with a 3.93 ERA.  The Astros continue to rebuild and add young talent as Hoes, 23-years-old, was batting .304 in 99 games in AAA before a short call up with the Orioles.  Hader is 3-6 in the Orioles Single-A affiliate. 

This division is heating up as October baseball nears.  The A’s lead the Rangers by four games and these two teams will battle til the end of the season for the AL West title.  The trades made, although minor, add depth and experience to these rosters.  The Rangers will try to make the postseason for what would be their fourth year in a row while the A’s will try and win the division for the second year in a row.